Humanitarian Assistance for Internally Displaced People in Ethiopia - CARE 2021

February 2021 - Prior to the outbreak of conflict in the Tigray region in late 2020 Ethiopia was already facing ongoing acute humanitarian need arising from sporadic but widespread intercommunal conflict regional drought and flooding swarms of desert locusts the economic pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of hosting nearly 800 000 refugees throughout the country. Together these crises have led to widespread food insecurity high levels of acute malnutrition and significant population displacement. Although ongoing fighting and other access restrictions have hindered full needs assessments in Tigray an estimated 29 million people in Ethiopia are likely to require humanitarian assistance in 2021. With GAC’s support CARE is preventing and treating acute malnutrition improving access to safe water and sanitation and helping households to meet essential needs amongst internally displaced persons and host communities in Ethiopia’s drought- and conflict-affected Somali region. Project activities include: (1) identifying and treating acute malnutrition; (2) rehabilitating water points and distributing sanitation and hygiene related non-food items; and (3) providing unconditional cash grants to crisis-affected households.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) reduced rates of acute malnutrition; (2) reduced spread of water-borne disease and COVID-19; and (3) improved ability of vulnerable households to meet basic needs. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.